From astronaut ambition to advocacy through animation

MALAYSIANSKINI | Born and raised in Shah Alam, Selangor, Jean Ho’s early ambitions pointed skyward as she dreamed of becoming an astronaut.

Pursuing Stem subjects, she then aspired to be an aerospace engineer.

However, a creative awakening occurred when her filmmaker cousin introduced her to the world of short films and camerawork during secondary school.

“When I’m not directing, I’m usually in the camera department,” Ho recalled.

“I enjoy working with and figuring out every camera and lens, and how these wonderful devices transform mechanical science into creative images on screen.”

This technical curiosity laid the foundation for Ho’s transition into filmmaking.

After realising her waning passion for math and physics, she pivoted to chase her newfound cinematic aspirations, eventually enrolling at DePaul University’s film school in Chicago, US.

Illuminating the unseen

As a freelance filmmaker, Ho has dedicated her latest endeavour, the animated docuseries “Invisible People”, to shedding light on Malaysia’s underrepresented and often-overlooked stateless individuals and refugee communities.

Dismayed by the lack of mainstream attention surrounding an estimated 10,000 stateless individuals in West Malaysia and over 189,000 refugees registered with the UNHCR, Ho was driven to understand why some faced denial of citizenship despite being born in the country or having strong ties to it.

Simultaneously, she sought to examine why others fleeing war or catastrophe were denied fundamental rights like accessible healthcare, education, and stable employment.

“We are all human, yet they are denied the resources to live as such,” Ho lamented.

“It’s time for us to stop overlooking their existence and experiences. It’s time their stories and voices are heard.”

Animating empathy

Inspired by the emotionally compelling blend of hand-drawn and experimental animation in the Netflix documentary “A Love Song For Latasha”, Ho decided to breathe life into her stories through animation.

“Invisible People” comprises six episodes, each dedicated to a different individual’s unique circumstances and personality, portrayed through diverse visual styles, from traditional 2D to mixed media and psychedelic animation.

“Overall, I think merging hand-drawn/painted animation with other styles is the perfect way to inject individuality into our participants’ stories,” Ho explained.

“They’re in the same boat, yet have distinct struggles with their status and relationship to Malaysia.”

Ho said she aims to convey different perspectives of what it means to be stateless/a refugee, and also the notion that citizenship should be a basic right rather than a privilege.

Shattering stereotypes is key

Through her advocacy, Ho hopes to shatter stereotypes and foster empathy among Malaysians and viewers worldwide.

“I hope that Malaysians, or any viewer really, can look beyond societal labels and realise that every individual in these communities has their own story and relationship with Malaysia,” she implored.

While she has yet to directly engage with the government on these issues, she remains optimistic about the potential impact of “Invisible People”, buoyed by the recent success of local films like “Abang Adik” and “Tiger Stripes”.

“I hope that the recent success of local movies like ‘Abang Adik’ and ‘Tiger Stripes’ will allow for projects like mine to flourish in the mainstream,” she said.

With her admiration for the project’s diverse team of animators, who “deserve all her respect” for their creative contributions, “Invisible People” strives to render the invisible visible, giving voice and vision to the stories of Malaysia’s stateless and refugee communities through the powerful medium of animation.

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